Waimate to race at Washdyke in September

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 30

Waimate to race at Washdyke in September

By J. J. BOYLE The Waimate Racing Club has been given approval to hold its race meeting next» season at Washdyke on Saturday, September 7. The move to Washdyke would assure the Waimate club of financial help by way of a loan from the Racing Authority, the Waimate club’s secretary, Mr A. B. Wilson, said yesterday. The revised classification of racecourses announced by the Racing Authority had a direct bearing on the Waimate club’s decision to move. “We would have received nonsuch financial

if we had decided to race next season on our ungraded course,” Mr Wilson said. The Waimate club will receive $6OO higher basic subsidies per flat race and $5OO more for jumping races by racing on the graded Washdyke course. The subsidies are $lBOO and $2500 respectively. Subsidies for races at Waimate remain unchanged at $l2OO and $2OOO for flat and jumping races respectively. Whether the Waimate District Hunt follows the lead of the racing club and moves away from its home course will not be decided

until next season. A decision along those lines was reached at a special meeting of members recently. Mr Wilson, who is also the Waimate Hunt secretary, said yesterday that a decision did not appear to be necessary at this stage. It was felt that officials would be in a better position to judge the situation after the Waimate District Hunt’s annual race meeting on July 13. The hunt showed a loss of $7OOO in its racing account last year and $3OOO in each of the/two previous years.